Election Day – The Comedies

Millibo takes a fresh (and mischievous) look at that time honored right of every American citizen to cast that one and ever-so-precious vote. Join us for an evening of short plays and monologues as we dig deep into what it means to vote yesterday, today, and not at all.

You’ll laugh, you’ll gasp, you’ll clench your fists, you’ll giggle, you’ll ponder, you’ll wonder, you’ll shake your head, and if we’ve done our job as theatre makers, you’ll head home after the show with oh-so-much to talk about. Don’t miss it!

Thurs Oct 24 & 31 @ 7:30 – $25 

Fri & Sat Oct 25, 26 & Nov 1, 2 @ 7:30 – $28

Sun Oct 27 & Nov 3 @ 2pm – $28

Any Time FLEX Pass Ticket / $23

Six short plays by Colorado-based authors, four local directors, and a bunch of local actors:

Brief Conversation Between the Politically Interested

By Seth Palmer Harris

Friends meet at a Wine Bar and testy political discussions ensue

Character 1 – Abigael AJ Vafiades

Character 2 – Sheridan Singer

Character 3 – Bethany Adams

Character 4 – Micah Speirs

Director – Jim Jackson

Candid Dating

By Mary Sprunger-Froese

Speed Datings on Election night set to the music of ABBA

Announcer – recorded Bob Morsch

Greg – Jude Bishop

Amy – Mary Sprunger-Froese

Director – Jim Jackson

Tuesdays, Am I Right?

By Cameron Eickmeyer

A revealing conversation on a flight to a fictional country ruled by an authoritarian government

Adam – Micah Speirs

Woman – Abigail AJ Vafiades

Captain/Pilot – recorded Bob Morsch

Director – Jim Jackson

Make Root Canals Great Again

By Warren Epstein

A dentist discusses politics with a patient undergoing a root canal – “Trigger warning – the sound of a dentist drill is used”

Dr. Jim Stafford – Jude Bishop

Sarah Gonzales, patient – Sheridan Singer

Director – Warren Epstein

Who Am I, Why Am I Here?

By Jeremiah Walter

Campaign workers argue over the qualities of a candidate they would most like to have a beer with.

Alex – Sheridan Singer

Blake – Bethany Adams

Andy – candidate – Jude Bishop

Director – Jeremiah Walter

Unicorn Theory

By Lisa Siebert

The town council meets to vote on entries for a new ‘I Voted’ sticker with hilarious results.

Pat – Melissa O’Rear

Paul – Warren Epstein

Chris – Ross Jacobson

Marsha – Solveig Olsen

Director – Joye Cook-Levy

Thurs Oct 24 & 31 @ 7:30 – $25 / Fri & Sat Oct 25, 26 & Nov 1, 2 @ 7:30 – $28 /Sun Oct 27 & Nov 3 @ 2pm – $28

Any Time FLEX Pass Ticket / $23

ONLINE TICKETS

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CAST:

BETHANY ADAMS Bethany Adams is doing her best to stay active in Colorado Springs theatre. She is delighted to be involved in two very funny stories. Funny stories are the most important thing.

JUDE BISHOP – “Not voting is not a protest. It is a surrender.” – Keith Ellison. Jude loves playing at the MAT. He hopes you enjoy the show. He sends his love to his kids; Ian, Gage and Chloe, and to his girlfriend Sheridan. And he loves all of you for playing along.

JOYE COOK-LEVY is a local director and arts education guru now teaching at UCCS and consulting with both Green Box Arts and the  CS Philharmonic on their launch of The Center for Future Audiences. In her own words “I  should never play favorites….but… this has been my favorite 10 min  MAT project!  Gorgeously playful humans I love Solveig, Warren, Melissa and introducing Ross!  And this delicious funny little play from the big dreamy brain of Lisa Siebert! Thanks for asking me to play again Jim. The answer is always Yes!

CAMERON EICKMEYER writes about technology, social justice, and how people interpret the world. His work often explores the dark humor where those topics overlap. He’s had stage plays produced in Colorado, Florida and Missouri. His fiction and poetry has appeared in various outlets, and he has a screenplay optioned in 2022. He is a proud member of the Dramatist Guild since 2023.WARREN EPSTEIN is the Director and writer of “Make Root Canals Great Again” and Paul in “Unicorn”. Warren has been a semi-regular at The MAT for the past two decades, performing his one-man show, “Borscht Belted,” and writing, acting and directing in “10 Minutes Max” and “Cabaret Voltaire.” He has also performed at TheatreWorks, Springs Ensemble Theatre, the Modbo Ho Ho, Star Bar Players, the Open Egg, and Colorado Actors Studio Theatre.

SETH PALMER HARRIS is a COS-based actor, director, producer, playwright, and other nouns as well. His primary focus these days is on communication training with, among others, law enforcement and social workers while pursuing his Master’s Degree in Communication from UCCS. He’s historically been an actor up and down the Front Range and into the mountains, from the Colorado Shakespeare Festival down to Theatreworks and from the Aurora Fox up to the Breckenridge Backstage Theatre. He was born in West Germany, raised in Minnesota, and has lived in Colorado since 2006.

JIM JACKSON (Director & Producer) is an internationally acclaimed clown with over 45 years of laughs in the circus and theatre. From 1976 through 2001, he toured his solo clown and circus shows throughout the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. Together with Birgitta De Pree, Jim co-founded the Millibo Art Theatre in 2002 where he has produced and directed many theatre, circus, and cabaret performances. He credits his three daughters Julia, Caitlin, and Lisbet for his best jokes.

ROSS JACOBSON: “After 36 years of selling software and 7 years exploring retirement, I’m making my acting debut. WTF?!  Thanks to Joye for believing and nudging, and to Melissa, Solveig and Warren for illuminating and encouraging.  My heart is warm.”.

MELISSA O’REAR  is thrilled to be back performing on the Millibo stage! She holds many roles in the arts community including, founder and Executive Director of Theatre Across Borders and the Program Manager of Education at COPPR. Thank you to her husband, Stephen, and local family for all of their support!

SHERIDAN SINGER is a recent graduate of UCCS. She is excited to start her adventure at PPSC in the ASL interpreting program! She would like to thank her mom, who is always sending audition notices, her dad for giving her great ideas, and Bryan and Maddie for being their beautiful selves. Love you Jude!

MICAH SPEIRS is a company member with Springs Ensemble Theatre, Micah has worked all over town both onstage and off. Glad to be back on stage here at the Millibo he was last seen as the Court Jester at the Colorado Renaissance Festival. His passion for theatre and love of entertainment will always keep him coming back for more. Enjoy the show!

MARY SPRUNGER-FROESE relishes this return to the MAT, having played in the MAT’S last election year’s VOTE! Recently she performed in Funky Little Theater’s Four Old Broads and the Play Crawl. Lotsa gratitude to Jim and Birgitta for creating—and featuring—local new work! Thanks to cast and crew—and YOU—for electing to participate!

SOLVEIG OLSEN has called Colorado Springs home for the past fourteen years. Here, she has been seen on stages with Opera Theatre of the Rockies, Theaterworks, the Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, as well as multiple concerts and recitals. Solveig calls UCCS home where she acts as Co-Director of the Music Program. She is thrilled to be back at the MAT for this wonderful event!

LISA SIEBERT is a local actress and playwright. Several of her short plays have been produced in Colorado Springs including: Sides for the Old Guys, Big D, Open Concept (MAT); Envenomed, The Donors (SET), Trio (Theatre d’ Art); Negative Space, A Lounge Play (Funky).  Her short plays Envenomed, Big D and Penny have been produced at The Secret Theatre in Queens, NY.  Thanks to Joye, the Cast, and the MAT for bringing this new one to life!

AJ VAFIADES is a graduate from the UCCS Theatre and Dance Program and is currently pursuing her MBA in Project Management. She is delighted to be returning to the Millibo once again as an actress, but she has run lights for several shows, including Circus of the Night, Bluebird, and The Women’s Theater Festival. Previously, AJ has appeared in roles such as Holly in Elves Got Talent (MAT), the Balloon in Balloonacy (FAC and MAT), the Foley Artist in It’s a Wonderful Life (FAC) and Oberon and Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Theatreworks).

JEREMIAH WALTER is grateful to return to Millibo. This is his first time working at MAT as a playwright and a director, but he’s previously appeared on the Millibo stage in many shows as an actor and/or musician, including Tall, Tall Tales and Mother Courage and Her Children. He very much loves his amazing wife Darla. If you haven’t already, VOTE!

PRODUCTION CREW:

LACEY BARKHURST (Lighting Designer) has been working professionally in theatre for nearly a decade and is thrilled to be the MAT’s Technical Manager/Lighting Designer. She holds a BFA in Design and Technology for the Stage from Texas State University and has worked in theatres coast to coast, from The Pacific Conservatory Theatre in California to Goodspeed Musicals in Connecticut and many others in between. She would like to thank her partner, Dylan, for their constant love and support of not only her, but also the arts.

BOB MORSCH (Sound Manager) has been making sounds for theatre companies all over Colorado Springs for the last decade. He has worked with Star Bar, Theatre D’Art, Springs Ensemble Theatre, Theatre Works, Rocky Mountain Rep, and the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. Finally, after all that bouncing around, he is ecstatic to have ultimately landed in his home at the Millibo. He encourages you to take care of yourself, take care of someone else, adopt a dog, and pay for the car behind you.

OWEN MILKS (Stage Manager) has been in theatre since he was a young boy. He fondly remembers his first few plays he acted for in elementary school. Since then he has always loved to work every aspect of theatre. After High school, he worked with community theaters as an actor, stage management, and designing many aspects of the stage. Owen has been honing skills to bring the best story telling he can. He is excited to be working for the MAT, and looks forward to the future.

OLLIE GIELAS (Assistant Stage Manager) considers themselves a jack of all trades when it comes to theatre. Thanks for this can be given to Cornell College where they graduated in 2020 with a degree in Theater and Studio Art. After working as a puppet maker on A Simple Silhouette Circus in college, Ollie is thrilled to be back in the world of circus with their fourth MAT production. They are very thankful for all of the opportunities the MAT has provided them and the community. They hope to work with the Millibo again in the future.